Damian was made aware of proposed changes to community rehab at both the Petersfield Community Hospital and Alton Community Hospital during the summer of 2025.
The Rowan Ward, Petersfield Community Hospital
The ward is a 21 bedded unit specialising in the frailty, rehabilitation of adult patients and end of life care. Many patients who are admitted to Queen Alexandra in Portsmouth were previously referred to the Rowan Ward (or its sister ward, Cedar Ward) for rehabiliation or physiotherapy to help them get back on their feet before returning home. Rowan Ward also provides short term 'step up' care, preventing individuals from being admitted to an acute hospital for their condition or going into a care home as well as end of life and palliative care. The Trust responsible for the ward (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust) proposed to close the ward and instead increase it's 'at home' rehabilitation care service. The Cedar Ward would remain open.
Damian met with the senior team from the Trust and held meetings with the ICB and doctors working in primary care. He also met with staff from both Rowan and Cedar Ward and heard from representatives from Patient Participation Groups as well as concerned members of the public, some of whom had recent experience of Rowan Ward. The proposals were subject to a consultation with affected staff and latterly a public 'engagement' exercise with the local community.
Damian campaigned for the proposals to close the ward to be put on hold pending a full review of the impacts of this change on acute hospital care, GP practices and the social care sector. He also raised the matter in Parliament with the Health Secretary.
The proposals to close the Rowan Ward were put forward to the Health and Adult Social Care (HASC) meeting in November - this is a committee chaired by Hampshire County Council. The Trust were quizzed on the proposals by the members in attendance and agreed to report back on the implementation of the changes (including any impacts on discharges from the acute hospitals) at the HASC meeting in March 2026. The Trust has also agreed to implement a number of 'surge' beds at the hospital for times of high need for inpatient rehabilitation. The committee ultimately signed off the Trust's proposals to close the Rowan Ward and transfer these resources to an expanded 'at home' rehabilitation service. The Rowan Ward finally closed on 2 February.
Alton Community Hospital
Like Petersfield, the Trust proposed to close a number of community beds (10 in total), which would mean the closure of the Anstey Ward. All inpatient rehabilitation would be delivered from the Inwood Ward. The Trust committed to make available a number of surge beds at the hospital for times of high need and the additional resource woud, simliar to Petersfield Hospital, be transferred to the at home rehabilitation service. Damian met with the management team at the hospital as well as staff to understand how the proposed changes would affect local residents, including those being discharged from Basingstoke Hospital. The Trust submitted its proposals to close the Anstey Ward to the HASC meeting in September 2025. These were signed off. The impact of the proposals at Alton Community Hospital will also be reported on during the March HASC meeting.
For a list of the latest questions Damian has asked in Parliament, click here.
If you have concerns about the closure of the Rowan Ward or Anstey Ward, please do get in touch: [email protected]
